Understanding Formal Analysis
Explore the elements of art and principles of design used by artists with your students. Students discover how to identify the elements and principles, and evaluate their role in the composition of a work of art. Exploring the elements and principles supports students' understanding of artist's choices and equips them with the vocabulary to express their critical thinking about works of art.
Lessons
Activities
• I Spy Irises
(Grades K—2)
• Still Life Photography: Daily Life
(Grades 3—5)
• From Foreground to Background
(Grades 3—5)
• Writing about Art: Comparing Portraits
(Grades 3—12)
• Analyzing Photographs
(Grades 6—12)
• Looking and Learning in the Art Museum
(Grades 6—12)
• Still-Life Painting: Arranging Nature
(Grades 9—12)
• Looking at Photography Lesson 1:
The Elements of Photography
(Adult)
(Grades K—2)
• Still Life Photography: Daily Life
(Grades 3—5)
• From Foreground to Background
(Grades 3—5)
• Writing about Art: Comparing Portraits
(Grades 3—12)
• Analyzing Photographs
(Grades 6—12)
• Looking and Learning in the Art Museum
(Grades 6—12)
• Still-Life Painting: Arranging Nature
(Grades 9—12)
• Looking at Photography Lesson 1:
The Elements of Photography
(Adult)
Click to download art activity PDF files:
• Student Handout: Introducing Balance
• Student Handout: Introducing Emphasis
• Student Handout: Introducing Line
• Student Handout: Introducing Movement
• Student Handout: Introducing Pattern
• Student Handout: Introducing Proportion
• Student Handout: Introducing Repetition
• Student Handout: Introducing Rhythm
• Student Handout: Introducing Shape
• Student Handout: Introducing Unity
• Student Handout: Introducing Variety
• My Getty Adventure: Compare/Contrast
• Drawing Insects with Organic Shapes and
Lines
• Exploring Value to Create Form
• Student Handout: Introducing Balance
• Student Handout: Introducing Emphasis
• Student Handout: Introducing Line
• Student Handout: Introducing Movement
• Student Handout: Introducing Pattern
• Student Handout: Introducing Proportion
• Student Handout: Introducing Repetition
• Student Handout: Introducing Rhythm
• Student Handout: Introducing Shape
• Student Handout: Introducing Unity
• Student Handout: Introducing Variety
• My Getty Adventure: Compare/Contrast
• Drawing Insects with Organic Shapes and
Lines
• Exploring Value to Create Form
Background & Context
Videos
Click to download background PDF files:
• Elements of Art
• Principles of Design
• Art Vocabulary
• Still Life Overview and Vocabulary
• Illustrated Elements of Art
• Illustrated Principles of Art
• Elements of Art
• Principles of Design
• Art Vocabulary
• Still Life Overview and Vocabulary
• Illustrated Elements of Art
• Illustrated Principles of Art
Click to watch Getty videos on YouTube:
• Introducing Formal Analysis: Still Life
• Introducing Formal Analysis: Landscape
• Introducing Formal Analysis: Still Life
• Introducing Formal Analysis: Landscape